Claire Spellberg’s Top 10 Everything Of 2017

As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to take stock of the best TV, movies, and pop culture moments of 2017. And hoo boy, were there some amazing moments. Queen Bey united the nation with her shocking pregnancy announcement, Riverdalesnuck onto the scene as a must-see character study in crazy, and The Big Sick taught us that “this elevator goes all the way fucking down!” is a totally acceptable insult. Our favorite TV shows, movies, and pop culture moments distracted us from the constant news cycle and seemingly endless parade of shit that was 2017, an admirable achievement in a year that seemed like it would never end.

There was so much good art this year—yes, Chrissy Teigen’s Twitter feed is ART— that picking 10 things for a “Best Of” list is an incredibly daunting task. Rather than focus on the best critical achievements of 2017, I’ve chosen 10 things that made me happy or spoke to me most this year. These shows, movies, hippos, and celebrities served various purposes, but at the end of the day, they all made this year a little bit more manageable for me.

'American Vandal'

I loved every dick-filled second of American Vandal, Netflix‘s true-crime satire about a high school student who is accused of drawing dicks on 27 cars in the faculty parking lot. Admittedly, I had high expectations for the series (I love a good Deez Nuts joke), but the final product went so far beyond my expectations that I’m still amazed how creators Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault did it. There’s truly something for everyone in American Vandal, no matter your age, maturity level, or gender. I mean, how can you not enjoy a 3D rendering of an alleged handjob?

“This isn’t about dicks. This is about the justice system” is my new mantra going into 2018.

Fiona The Hippo

In a year of consistently awful news, baby hippo Fiona was a bright spot for animal lovers and viral video fans alike. In January, Fiona was born six weeks premature at the Cincinnati Zoo, and at only 29 lbs, her chances of survival were slim. However, in the months since, her expert care team has helped her grow into a healthy 622 lb hippo with a global following. Fiona even received her own show on Facebook, The Fiona Show, about her journey to health and the people who supported her along the way. By farting, photobombing, and smiling through her first year of life, Fiona has made a name for herself as the breakout star of 2017.

'The Handmaid's Tale'

Hulu

When The Handmaid’s Talepremiered on Hulu in the spring, I don’t think any of us could have imagined how relevant it would become in the wake of the #MeToo movement. The Elisabeth Moss-led series explores the unique horrors of being a woman like no other show in 2017, and it brought these concerns to the forefront of the nation’s attention at a time when women’s and reproductive rights feel especially threatened. For those of you who haven’t watched yet, here’s an answer to a question probably on your mind: Yes, The Handmaid’s Tale really is that good.

'Broad City,' "Florida"

I’ve been a Broad Cityfan since the show first premiered in 2014, but my experience with Abbi and Ilana didn’t prepare me in the slightest for the Season 4 episode “Florida.” Abbi and Ilana head to Florida to clean out Ilana’s grandmother’s apartment, and the duo immediately takes to the humid, gun-loving Sunshine State. They decide to rent an apartment in Grandma Esther’s complex, but they soon realize that the residents are homophobic racists and get the hell out of there pronto. “There’s literally only straight, white people,” says Abbi after they’ve given up their spot in the apartment complex. “What are we, in a Woody Allen movie?” “Florida” combines Broad City‘s strengths with Trump-era themes, resulting in an episode that’s as hilarious as it is timely.

SZA's "Quicksand" On 'Insecure'

Music is in integral part of Insecure, and no artist contributed to the HBO series more this season than SZA, the Grammy-nominated R&B singer. While Molly (Yvonne Orji) and Quentin (LilRel Howery) are hooking up in the Season 2 finale, “Hella Perspective,” we hear SZA sing the beginning of her Insecure-exclusive song, “Quicksand.” “Should I assume it’s me, sweet disposition, switching position, ducking submission, or should I assume it’s a weekend thing, boy?” she sings as things get hot n’ heavy. The song is the perfect compliment to a super hot sex scene—even if we wish it were Dro rather than Quentin—and an even better reflection of the chaos that’s followed Molly and her best friend Issa (Issa Rae) all season.

All year long, Chrissy Teigen and Billy Eichner have been bringing the laughs on social media right when we need them most. Whether they’re trolling the internet for old bananas, reminding Americans to vote in important elections, or posting behind-the-scenes videos of Lip Sync Battleor Difficult People, Chrissy and Billy provided a year’s worth of pick-me-ups in this garbage dump of a year. Teigen-Eichner 2020, anyone?

'Get Out'

Get Outis so many things: a scathing commentary on race relations, a shining example of high-brow horror, a comedy (at times), and even a gory thriller. What’s amazing about Jordan Peele‘s masterpiece is that it excels at each of those things, never leaning too far into one area at the expense of another. With great performances by Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, the “white girl who did 2017 right,” and the always-funny LilRel Howery (earning a second spot on this list), Get Out will go down as one of the best movies of 2017—and perhaps the best metaphorical horror thriller of all time.

Jessica Biel In 'The Sinner'

Photo: USA Network

In the late summer, The Sinnercame along as a underdog mini-series about a woman named Cora Tannetti (Jessica Biel) who suddenly kills a man one day at the beach. Rather than focus on the “who,” The Sinner focuses on the “why,” and in the process, the mini-series cemented itself as one of the most original shows of the year. Each week, Cora’s story went further off the rails (and it was pretty crazy to begin with, so that’s saying something) as we learned about her abusive past, her creepy relationship with her sister, and her missing memories. Golden Globe-nominated Biel is amazing in the lead role, and even though Cora is a big departure from her usual roles, she slips into her story with ease. The story itself is riveting, but it’s Biel who drives the show, turning Cora into someone we can root for from the very first minute we meet her.

'Big Little Lies'

HBO

No 2017 show tackled motherhood, and the lengths mothers are willing to go, better than Big Little Lies, the HBO mini-series (now just a series-series, I suppose) that dominated the awards conversation since its premiere in February. BLL took no prisoners as it barreled towards its high-stakes finale, but at its core, the show was so much more than its central mystery. Each episode served to further complicate the women of Monterrey, clapping back at stereotypes that tell women that they must be this or that kind of mother. Season 2 will have a lot to live up to, but if anyone is up to the task, it’s Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, and Co.

'Split'

I’m not claiming that Splitis the best movie of the year, but holy shit is it fun. M. Night Shyamalan‘s psychological thriller stars James McAvoy as Kevin, a troubled man with 23 different personalities who are fighting for control over his body. Unbeknownst to Kevin, one of his personalities abducts three high school girls and hides them in an abandoned part of his basement. As Kevin’s identity shifts between Hedwig, a 7-year-old boy, Patricia, a classy British lady, and Dennis, the germophobe who abducted the girls, we learn more about Kevin’s inner demons who are desperate to get out. Shyamalan keeps this thriller churning to the very end—he even includes a final-seconds twist—never for a second letting viewers, or Kevin’s victims, get too comfortable with any of the identities. Split‘s self-aware campiness makes the film an especially escapist watch and one of my all-time favorites of the year.